Article lock-out mechanism for vending machine



c. F. TER BUSH ARTICLE LOCK-OUT MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1959 May 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR CHARLES E TER BUSH FIG.

aud z- ATTORNEYS ARTICLE LOCK-OUT MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1959 May 7, 1963 c. F. TER BUSH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTOR. CHARLES F. TER BUSH AT TOR NEYS y 1963 c. F. TER BUSH 3,088,630

ARTICLE LOCK-OUT MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1959 3 SheetsSheet 3 FIG. 4 52 INVENTOR CHARLES F. TER BUSH ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,083,630 ARTICLE LGCK-OUT MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE Charles F. Ter Bush, Grove City, Ohio, assignor to Ideal Dispenser Co., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of ()hio Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 805,821 4 Claims. (Cl. 221.303)

This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to a novel release mechanism for vending a plurality of article types.

In general, the vending machine of the present invention includes a plurality of inclined shelves each of which delivers articles to a respective article releasing station. Each of the article releasing stations includes a slidably mounted gate means which is released for upward movement to permit withdrawal of an article from a respective article releasing station upon insertion of a coin in the vending machine.

In accordance with the present invention the release mechanism also includes a pivotally mounted sheet metal gate means located between each inclined shelf and its respective article releasing station for preventing the article stored on the inclined shelf from moving into the article releasing station when the previously mentioned slidably mounted gate means is in a lifted open position and an article is being removed therefrom. Said pivotally mounted sheet metal gate means is formed in a novel manner to include sheet metal flange portions certain of which are obstructed by said slidably mounted gate means and certain others of which serve to obstruct said slidably mounted gate means depending on the relative configuration in which the gate means are disposed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel article releasing mechanism which includes a plurality of slidably mounted sheet metal gate means that cooperate with a plurality of pivotally mounted sheet metal gate means to control the movement of articles both into and out of a plurality of article releasing stations, said gate means including integrally formed sheet metal gate obstructing portions that serve to obstruct certain other of said gate means when said gate means are disposed in certain relative configurations.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vending machine provided with the novel article releasing mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view of the article releasing mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a portion of the article releasing mechanism of the present invention, the section being taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pivotally mounted gate comprising a portion of the article releasing mechanism of the preceding figures.

Referring in detail to the drawing a vending machine constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 20, FIG. 1, and includes a storage compartment 21 provided with a plurality of superimposed inclined shelves 22-26.

The lower end of each of the inclined shelves 22-26 communicates with an article releasing station 28-32 Each of these stations includes an entrance 33 and an outlet opening 35a.

The article release mechanism of the present invention includes a frame means indicated generally at 35 3,088,630 Patented May 7, 1963 that carries a plurality of vertically superimposed slidable gate means indicated generally .at 3640. Each of the gates 36-49 is mounted on a vertically disposed track means, not illustrated, said track means being illustrated andrdescribed in detail in 115. Letters Patent No. 3,010,- 608.

When one of the gate means 36-40 is open by withdrawal of an article, all of the other gate means are restrained from opening by a novel interlock mechanism, not illustrated, described in detail in US. Letters Patent No. 3,010,608.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 2, f3, and 4 which illustrate a pivotally mounted gate means indicated generally at 45. Frame 35 supports brackets 46 and 47 and a pivot rod 43 is suspended bythe brackets- A blade 50 is suspendedon pivot rod 48 so as to engage; and restrain movement of the bottles into the releasing station when the pivotally mounted gate is locked.

Each of the slidably mounted gate means 3.6-4.0 includes an inturned vertical flange 52 forming a shoulder a sho n on sa mean 37 and 33 in 3. When a fla ge 52 is rai e up n open ng of one of the slidahle gate means 37, the flange 52 is moved in front of a flange 5 f mi g cond sh l er on the fron p r ion f p t ly mo nte ga means 45. Flang 52 ther y o struc p voting of ga means 45 t an article r leasing position whereby articles are prevented from moving into article releasing stations 28-32.

W th c nti ued reference to FI S. and 4, p ally mounted gate means 45 cannot be swung to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, and held there for the removal of bottles from the inclined shelf 23 since a shoulder 61 o med by a a g 0.011 the front end of ga e me 45 will engage a stop formed by the lower surface of a floor 2 of the r icle relea ing s ation next abov In opera ionthe machine i loa e hro gh the op normally closed by front door panel 56 by placing articles on th incline helve 2246. All of the slidable ga e means 3640 will be in a closed position whereby the inturned flanges 52 thereon lie below the pivotally mounted gate means 45. Since the pivotally mounted gate means 45 are unlocked one article will roll into each of the article releasing stations 28-32. In order to make a purchase, a coin is inserted in a coin acceptance mechanism, not illustrated, whereby one of the articles in one of the article releasing stations can be grasped by the neck and drawn outwardly. The progressively greater diameter of the neck of the bottle being withdrawn engages a roller 57 on ,the lower edge of the gate means to reduce the frictional resistance as the gate means is lifted by the bottle. While the gate means is in the upper position, as seen at gate means 37 in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inturned flange 52 on gate means 37 is, positioned in front of flange 54 on pivotally mounted gate means 45 which prevents the next article on shelf 22 from moving into article releasing station 29 from where it could be withdrawn under slidable gate means 37 while the gate means is open.

When gate means 37 is released by the complete withdrawal of the bottle the gate means will return to a closed position, such as the position occupied by gate means 38 in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein flange 52 lies below flange 54 and pivotally mounted gate means 45 is thereby freed to pivot and release the next article into the article releasing station.

With continued reference to FIG. 2 flange 60 on pivotally mounted gate means 45 serves an additional important function in that it will obstruct opening of a slidably mounted gate means when pivotally mounted gate means 45 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, from its normal suspended position, as seen at the article releasing station 30 in FIG. 2. It will be understood that flange 60 on pivotally mounted gate means 45 will overlie flange 52 on slidable gate means 38 when it is pivoted in a clockwise direction with slidable gate means 38 closed as seen in FIG. 2. This arrangement prevents an unethical purchaser from reaching into the article releasing station and rotating pivotally mounted gate means 45 in a clockwise direction prior to the lifting of slidable gate means 38. If the unethical purchaser were able to do so he could, of course, remove all of the articles from shelf 23 merely by expending the purchase price required for one actuation of the release mechanism.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type that includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, said mechanism comprising, in combination, frame means; an inclined shelf for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended; an article releasing station at a lower end of said inclined shelf and including an entrance and an outlet opening; a first gate means vertically slideably mounted on said frame means and movable between a closed position obstructing said outlet opening and an open position, said first gate means including a first shoulder; and a second gate means pivotally mounted to said frame means at said entrance for pivotal movement about an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first gate means, said second gate means being article releasing station, said second gate means including a sheet metal flange portion forming a second shoulder, said econd shoulder being obstructed by said first shoulder on said first gate means when said first gate means is in said open position, said first shoulder being movable away from obstructing relationship with said second shoul der by movement of said first gate means into said closed position.

2. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type that includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, said mechanism comprising, in combination, frame means; an inclined shelf for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended; an article releasing station at a lower end of said inclined shelf and including an entrance and an outlet opening; a first gate means vertically slideably mounted on said frame means and movable between a closed position obstructing said outlet opening and an open position, said first gate means including a shoulder; a pivot rod mounted to said frame and including a longitu dinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first gate means; and a sheet metal gate means including bearing holes through which said pivot rod is extended for pivotally supporting said sheet metal gate means to said frame means above said shelf, said sheet metal gate means being retained in the path of said articles by said shoulder when said first gate means is in said open position, said shoulder being movable away from obstructing relationship with said sheet metal gate means upon closing of said first gate means.

3. An article release mechanism fora vending machine of the type that includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, said mechanism comprising, in combination, frame means; an inclined shelf for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended; an article releasing station at a lower end of said inclined shelf and including an entrance and an outlet opening; a first gate means vertically slideably mounted on said frame means and movable between a closed position obstructing said outlet opening and an open position; a second gate means mounted for pivotal movement about an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first gate means and including a first flange disposed in the path of articles moving into said article receiving station, a second flange offset from said first flange and provided with a bearing hole, and a third flange offset from said second flange, said first gate means including a shoulder for vertical movement into obstructing relationship with said third flange of said second gate meanswhen said first gate means is in an open position.

4. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type that includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, said mechanism comprising, in combination, frame means; an inclined shelf for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended; an article releasing station at a lower end of said inclined shelf and including an entrance and an outlet opening; a first gate means vertically slideably mounted on said frame means and movable between a closed position obstructing said outlet opening and an open position, said first gate means including a shoulder; a second gate means mounted for pivotal movement about an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first gate means and including a first flange disposed in the path of articles moving into said article receiving station and a second flange offset from an end of said first flange, said second flange being normally clear of the path of the movement of said shoulder, said second flange being movable into a position of obstructing relationship with said shoulder when said second gate means is in an article releasing position; and means for obstructing movement of said second gate means responsive to movement of said first gate means.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,619 M-acCartee et a1 Feb. 18, 1941 2,727,654 Childers et a1 Dec. 20', 1955 2,766,906 Bookout et al Oct. 16, 1956 2,875,922 Hsu et a1 Mar. 3, 1959 2,898,001 Johnson Aug. 4, 1959 2,986,304 Earnhardt May 30, 1961 

1. AN ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE OF THE TYPE THAT INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED SHELVES, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, FRAME MEANS; AN INCLINED SHELF FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES TO BE VENDED; AN ARTICLE RELEASING STATION AT A LOWER END OF SAID INCLINED SHELF AND INCLUDING AN ENTRANCE AND AN OUTLET OPENING; A FIRST GATE MEANS VERTICALLY SLIDEABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEANS AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION OBSTRUCTING SAID OUTLET OPENING AND AN OPEN POSITION, SAID FIRST GATE MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST SHOULDER; AND A SECOND GATE MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME MEANS AT SAID ENTRANCE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS THAT EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST GATE MEANS, SAID SECOND GATE MEANS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN ARTICLES ON SAID SHELF ARE OBSTRUCTED AGAINST MOVEMENT INTO SAID ARTICLE RELEASING STATION AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID ARTICLES ARE NOT OBSTRUCTED AGAINST MOVEMENT INTO SAID ARTICLE RELEASING STATION, SAID SECOND GATE MEANS INCLUDING A SHEET METAL FLANGE PORTION FORMING A SECOND SHOULDER, SAID SECOND SHOULDER BEING OBSTRUCTED BY SAID FIRST SHOULDER ON SAID FIRST GATE MEANS WHEN SAID FIRST GATE MEANS IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION, SAID FIRST SHOULDER BEING MOVABLE AWAY FROM OBSTRUCTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SECOND SHOULDER BY MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST GATE MEANS INTO SAID CLOSED POSITION. 